Removing the Chip Tray For More Air ....

[brickguy221]

The MES have a cover over the chip tray and the chip tray sits over the coil, so the coil gets good protection.

My question is ... if a person burning pellets removes the chip tray in attempt to get more air flow from the chip loader hole, will the coil still be protected well with the cover that is over the chip tray?

One more question and that is ... what effect will this air have on the coil that is coming in directly over the coil?

I've hear of people pulling the chip tray out 1", so I was wondering what would happen it the chip tray was removed entirely... ???

Has anyone tried this?

 

[daveomak]

I took everything else out and left the chip tray in for thermal mass... I do have a Mail Box mod.....

MES air flow mod.jpg

• daveomak
• Sep 14, 2015

 

[brickguy221]

I took everything else out and left the chip tray in for thermal mass... I do have a Mail Box mod.....

MES air flow mod.jpg

• daveomak
• Sep 14, 2015

From the picture, it appears that your coil is better covered than mine is.

 

[chef jimmyj]

I tried the chip tray out for 1 cook in my second Gen1 MES 40. The pellets got too much air and burned 6 hours worth of pellets in about 3 hours. I was smoking Ribs, some grease collected under the coil, in the bottom grease pan, and caught fire. I have had grease there before, with the drawer at 1" and no issue. The chip tray is now back in with the lower shield between the coil and the grease pan as per the manual...JJ